Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Damewood.
Hi Dana, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up on a farm in rural Nebraska, where I attended a one room schoolhouse. One of my earliest memories was being fascinated by the light in my grandmother’s home. Eventually, we left our small town and moved to Omaha. I was never exposed to much art or culture. I realized I had a desire early on to find an outlet for my creativity. I was fortunate to discover an unusually advanced photography program in high school.
At 16, I processed my first roll of film in the darkroom. At that moment, I said to myself, “I’m going to do this the rest of my life”. Without encouragement to go to college and coming from limited means, my high school photography teacher recognized my situation, talent, drive and passion for photography. She pushed me to apply for scholarships and helped me navigate my way to college. I knew photography was my ticket into a different world and would allow for opportunities I would never have otherwise.
I never was encouraged to go to college, nor did I see it as a remote possibility. I am so grateful to my high school photography teacher, Janet Helm. She not only encouraged me, but actually filled out the scholarship paperwork to apply to our local community college because I was resistant. I was accepted with a full ride in their photography program. Early in the program, I realized I wanted more. I was determined to participate in a program that had an art based focus beyond technical skills required for commercial photography.
I worked hard for two years building a fine art portfolio. I applied and was accepted to several art schools. However, Savannah College of Art Design awarded me with a scholarship that covered 75% of my tuition, without knowing anything about the program or the city, I packed my car and moved to Savannah.
I graduated from SCAD in 2003. Although I loved Savannah, I had no money and no prospects. I did have connections to the art community in Omaha, so I moved home and I started my photography business.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I was lucky to build my business by word of mouth, and grow it in an organic way. It was smooth sailing until the 2009 recession. Along with many people at that time, I was confronted with financial hardship and was afraid I would lose my business. Fortunately, I knew how to live on a dime, and I had a drive to keep moving forward. I needed to answer the question, “What can I do now?” There wasn’t much I could do with my business, but I could do something more personal during this down time. I wanted to go on the road, but I couldn’t afford gas or hotels. After brainstorming, I decided to travel with a female truck driver, who happened to be from my hometown. This soon became the Trucker Project. What started out to be a really scary time, ended up being very fruitful creatively. It was a great learning experience, and proved to me that my nature is to be adaptable, and that I could survive change.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My current emphasis is shooting architecture, interiors, food, editorial and lifestyle. I never stray far from my fine art sensibilities, and love making beautiful images for creative people.
Although my business requires me to work with digital formats, my true love is shooting film. I collect vintage cameras and you’ll never find me far from my twin lens Rolleiflex 2.8. I’ve stayed true to my roots, and still love the click of the shutter, the process and the anticipation when shooting film. It’s magic.
My business is in a great place and I am fortunate to be able to grow it in ways I never thought possible. I always loved Savannah and am thrilled to be back establishing my business here. I am so happy to be able to return and work in the place that I have always loved.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.danadamewood.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danadamewoodphotography
